Significance of family medicine specialty: Perception and awareness among the public in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Family doctors are essential for personalized health care, including physical and mental health, and they are vital for preventive care. Not having a family doctor may result in delayed diagnosis and lack personal health awareness. This article focuses on understanding the level of consciousness about family medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In September 2024, a population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among the population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 403 participants were older than 18 years and were eligible to participate in the study. Participants were approached through social media platforms with a link to the study questionnaire. SPSS was used to analyze the data. A slight majority of the participants were men, with 224 responses (55.6%). Awareness of the importance of family physicians was high, with 352 responses (87.3%). Of these, 285 participants visited a family physician regularly (70.8%). The study evaluated the awareness of the importance of family medicine, its significance, and the dangers of neglecting it. As a result, the study population demonstrated a relatively high level of awareness regarding the general importance of family medicine. Still, it lacked a deeper understanding of the role of family physicians.